Description

West of Zanzibar (MGM, 1928). One Sheet (27" X 41").
Christmas is coming early this year for devoted movie poster
collectors! For silent film aficionados in particular, the November
Signature Auction will be especially exciting, as Heritage is
presenting for the first time several extraordinarily rare one
sheets from films featuring "The Man of a Thousand Faces," Mr. Lon
Chaney. Despite being born to deaf-mute parents in 1883, Chaney
excelled as a stage actor and owned a theatre company with his
brother. He made his film debut in 1912, and began establishing
himself as an ace actor and screen make-up extraordinaire,
specifically in roles of menacing, macabre, and melancholy
characters. In 1923, Universal Pictures President Carl Laemmle
essentially created the modern horror film with his production of
The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Laemmle knew that the obvious
star to appear as the misshapen lead could be none other than Lon
Chaney. Known as a master of makeup, Chaney would be the only actor
who could bring novelist Victor Hugo's tragic Quasimodo to life on
the screen. In 1925, Chaney was hired once again by Laemmle to
portray the disfigured composer in The Phantom of the Opera
and was given total control to create the makeup for his soon-to-be
legendary character. In 1928, the actor joined director Tod
Browning in West of Zanzibar as Phroso, a magician out to
exact vengeance upon the man (Lionel Barrymore) who paralyzed him
and tried to steal his wife (Jacqueline Gadsdon). Chaney's
creepiness is in full bloom and his rage palpable in this stone
litho image, a poster that collectors won't see again any time
soon. It's hard to believe this one sheet is more than eighty years
old -- only minimal signs of handling exist. Other than top edge
wear, crossfold separations, extra vertical folds, and a small
sliver of missing paper in the left border, the poster is in
remarkable condition. This will be one happy holiday season for the
collector that lands this jewel! Folded, Very Fine.